Joseph's son

Fr. Milanese proves once more to be a biblical scholar. In the homily today, he gave a new understanding to the controversy behind the gospel ready. He was humble and said that his ideas came from biblical commentaries he consulted when he was preparing his Sunday homily. The question he had in mind was why Jesus defended in such an elaborate way when the people of Nazareth seemed to challenge his authority, "Is not this Joseph' son?" (Luke 4:22)

The gospel reading this morning was a continuation of the gospel reading from last Sunday. On Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read a passage from the prophet Isaiah. After he finished the reading, he told the congregation that the Scripture was fulfilled in their hearing. People were wondered and uttered the question quoted above. Then Jesus gave an elaborate response citing how prophet Elijah went to a widow in Zarephath and prophet Elisha healed Naaman, a Syrian leper (Luke 4:23-27). Consequently, Jesus' response provoked the congregation and the people wanted to throw Jesus down a cliff! All these events were out of proportion. What had really happened?

Fr. Milanese told us that Jesus' reading of Isaiah was the root of the problem. He modified the Scripture!
Let us compare Isaiah's text and Jesus' reading.

Πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐπ̓ ἐμέ, οὗ εἵνεκεν ἔχρισέν με, εὐαγγελίσασθαι πτωχοῖς ἀπέσταλκέν με,
(ἰάσασθαι τοὺς συντετριμμένους τῇ καρδίᾳ,)
κηρύξαι αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν καὶ τυφλοῖς ἀνάβλεψιν,  
...
καλέσαι ἐνιαυτὸν κυρίου δεκτὸν
(καὶ ἡμέραν ἀνταποδόσεως, παρακαλέσαι πάντας τοὺς πενθοῦντας,)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me (to bind up the brokenhearted,)
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
...
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
(and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; )
(Is 61:1-2).

Πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ, οὗ εἵνεκεν ἔχρισέν με, εὐαγγελίσασθαι πτωχοῖς, ἀπέσταλκέν με,
...
κηρύξαι αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν καὶ τυφλοῖς ἀνάβλεψιν,
(ἀποστεῖλαι τεθραυσμένους ἐν ἀφέσει,)
19 κηρύξαι ἐνιαυτὸν κυρίου δεκτόν.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor ...
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
(to set at liberty those who are oppressed,)
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
(Lk 4:18-19).
Jesus left out "and the day of vengeance of our God" which the Jews interpreted to be directed against Gentiles! Jesus was sympathetic towards Gentiles and his response proved so. That explains why Jesus' response provoked his listeners.

What triggered this violent exchanges? "Is not his Joseph's son?"
Who were Joseph's sons in the Old Testament? Joseph was sold by his jealous brothers to Egypt. His sons were Manasseh and Ephraim born of a Egyptian wife, Asenath (Genesis 41:50-52). Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons but the 12 tribes of Israel did not come down from the 12 sons. Instead, Manasseh and Ephraim were among the 12 tribes of Israel to take the place of Joseph and Levi. They were grandsons of Jacob, but carried Egyptian DNA! Therefore, Jews should be sympathetic towards Gentiles but they were not because they suffered a lot from the hands of Gentiles. The Son of God chose to become a Jew to teach them to be receptive and open towards Gentiles. In the end, they crucified him.
When we defend the truth of charity, are we prepared to suffer and die for the truth?

Dear Lord, strengthen us to embrace sufferings in defence of truth. Amen.